Houtzdale Man Waives Hearing in Drug Case

CLEARFIELD – A 19-year-old Houtzdale man, Richard Allen Demko Jr., who has been accused of drug activity at an area motel, waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Richard Ireland during Centralized Court on Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.

Demko is facing seven counts each of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; intentional possession of a controlled substance by person not registered; and use/possession of drug paraphernalia. Demko’s charges stem from the reported drug activity on July 9 in Room 221 at the Knights Inn.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the Lawrence Township police received reports of drug activity at the motel, where there were to be bongs for smoking marijuana and synthetic marijuana in the room. Upon arrival police went to knock when the defendant opened the door to get some air. Police observed three smoking devices, a bag of suspected K-2 or marijuana and a jar containing numerous items of suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Upon entering police secured the room and its six occupants. Demko and five others were given their Miranda warnings, and the defendant admitted to ownership of the drugs and permitted a search. He had 18 bags of synthetic marijuana, a Schedule I drug; nine bags of marijuana; a bag containing 15 Subutex, a Schedule V drug; a foil-wrapped package containing 59 doses of LSA, a drug similar to LSD and a Schedule III drug; 18 bags of Special K (Ketamine), a Schedule III drug; seven bags of MDMA, or Molly, a Schedule I drug; and a bag with four grams of white powder that Demko told police was Molly.

The majority of drugs were packaged for delivery, and Demko admitted to ownership of the drugs, which were for sale, the affidavit states. Demko also had a one-pound bag of Damiana leaf, which he told police, is used for manufacturing synthetic marijuana.

Police packaged and logged the drugs into evidence, and they have been submitted to the crime lab. In addition to the drugs, police seized four pipes, flavoring liquid, a digital scale and more than 200 small bags for packaging drugs.

The defendant told police he’s moved more than $200,000 worth of drugs in the last year, the affidavit states. The other occupants of the room provided statements that they’d observed the smoking devices, marijuana and K-2.